The Japanese Doll
George Cooper
Joe's Jack-O-Lantern and Other Stories (Boston: DeWolfe, Fiske, & Co., 1885)
also published in the same format in Great Big Story Book (New York: McLoughlin Brothers)
(both books are anthologies of previously published verse, stories, and illustrations)
Miss China cried: "What a queer dress!"
"What funny eyes" sneered Miss Rag.
"She hasn't a curl
On her head, like a girl,
Nor a feature of which she can brag."
"That's so,"
Laughed Miss Wax; "we must snub her, you know.""How awkward she is!" said Miss French;
"Her speech, too, is most absurd.
She is quite out of place
Among dollies of grace;
And her ears are like wings of a bird,
Wide-spread,
Just as if they'd fly off with her head!"Just then little Alma popped in.
"Fie, dollies! for shame!" she cried.
"Your manners are bad,
They make me feel sad;
Have I taught you to act so?" she sighed,
"Be kind,
Though her ways are not just to your mind!"The dollies all looked quite ashamed;
This lesson they never forgot:
That kindness is best;
And now their odd guest
Is the happiest doll of the lot.
Though small,
She has never been homesick at all.Note: the Japanese doll illustrated is a boy doll, and this fits the description, since boy dolls are particularly lacking in hair and often have big ears.
